29 January 2004, 15:52
Defense Ministry denies reports on Russian peacekeeper's death in Abkhazia
The Russian Defense Ministry has denied reports that a Russian peacekeeper was killed near the village of Tageloni in Abkhazia's Gali district.
"There have been no incidents in which Russian peacekeeping units incurred losses in Abkhazia's Gali district," the ministry's press service reported.
The ministry also denied reports that Russian peacekeepers were involved in a skirmish with a criminal gang near the village of Lia in Georgia's Zugdidi district on January 27. In that incident, four Georgian policemen and two attackers were killed.
"Russian peacekeepers did arrive at the scene of the conflict and helped Georgian law enforcers stabilize the situation, but they were not engaged in the shootout with the bandits and did not suffer any losses," the press service said.
Editors note: See also the article "Dead body of Russian peacekeeper found in Georgian-Abkhazian conflict zone".
Source: Interfax News Agency
